Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 139088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
As such, I asked quickly, “Is this a decision that can be shared in front of company?”
Knox’s head came up.
“Company?” Dad asked, openly puzzled.
“Knox,” I said, flipping my empty fork his way.
“He’s extended family,” Mom decreed.
Both Dream and I turned to her.
“He was here for Thanksgiving, two years in a row,” Mom explained. “Nothing says family like sitting at the table for Thanksgiving dinner.”
This was true.
All of it.
Indeed, a little over a month ago, he was sitting at this very table for the second year in a row, celebrating Thanksgiving with us. So was Cap, Raye, Shirleen, her husband Moses, and Roam.
Tex and Nancy were there the year before, but last year, they went up to Denver to have Thanksgiving with Nancy’s daughters, Jet and Lottie, and their broods.
Knox smirked at me.
“This is important,” Dad said, gaining my attention. “And it’s decided. Though I don’t know why either of you would argue.”
“What’s decided?” Dream asked.
She was feeding herself and Feather (Mom had Harmony, who didn’t yet really do big people food, I was watching over Dusk).
“We had college funds set up for you,” Dad said. “Neither of you went to college.” He shook both hands in a don’t say it gesture even though no one said anything. “You both know we want nothing for you but to follow your bliss, so that was a statement, not a judgement.”
“Dad—” I tried, not thinking with this intro that this was something Knox should hear.
“So we changed them to wedding funds,” Dad spoke over me. “But, even if your mother and I made the most beautiful memories while making each other our own on our special day, we totally understand that marriage is an antiquated concept that did not serve women well. However, if you think that’s in your future”—he gave me a close look, which meant Dream’s eyes narrowed on me—“you can elect to keep that fund where it is, and growing, until that happy day.”
That was when his focus shifted to Dream.
“But if you want it for another purpose, say, to put a down payment on a house—” he went on.
But that was as far as he got.
Dream snapped at me. “You and your big fat mouth.”
I dropped my fork in pasta, red sauce and lentils, and lifted both hands, just like she had twenty minutes ago. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I saw a Zillow listing on your tablet, dollface,” Mom told her.
“I don’t understand the vitriol,” Dad chimed in the instant Mom quit speaking. “Even if Luna had told us you were looking at houses, why couldn’t she tell us? Is it a state secret?”
“It’s my business,” Dream mumbled.
“And thirty-five thousand dollars might help you with that business,” Dad returned.
Hold up.
Thirty-five thousand dollars?
Hot damn!
I could throw a killer wedding for thirty-five K.
Yowza!
I was so caught in this exciting news, I missed Dad’s easy-going vibe slipping.
“I truly don’t understand why your first reaction is to snap something in an ugly tone at your sister,” Dad said to Dream.
“Dad—” I tried again, at the same time Mom said, “Scott.”
“Okay, then let’s talk about how you think I’m not getting married.” Dream was now snapping at Dad.
“Because you’ve repeatedly said that marriage is an antiquated concept, its sole purpose being to force women to be chattel,” Dad retorted.
As far as I remembered, she’d been saying this since she was thirteen years old.
Stymied, Dream changed tactics.
“I’d say I’m not having this conversation in front of Knox, who’s not my extended family, but I’m not going to have it at all. Ever,” Dream announced.
“Dream and I have been spending time together, Dad,” I got in. “And it’s been cool.”
“You have?” Mom asked hopefully.
I nodded to her.
“Oh my God,” Mom whispered. “That’s just…lovely news.”
“And what’s that mean?” Dream bit in Mom’s direction.
Knox, who was sitting beside her and across from me, looked at me.
I made a face at him.
He frowned.
Uh-oh.
“Nothing, sugar plum,” Mom said through our nonverbal exchange. “Two sisters enjoying time together is lovely.”
“Well, obviously you already know without asking, Luna the Magnificent instigated it,” Dream said sarcastically. “I’m sure it won’t surprise you that I didn’t reach out to her.”
At the “Luna the Magnificent,” Knox’s attention shafted in her direction.
Oh shit.
“All right. Maybe we should table this for now, and you girls can think on it and let us know which way you want to go with the money,” Dad said.
“So, when I was desperate for money, you didn’t offer up this windfall,” Dream said to Dad. “But now that Luna’s getting older, probably also thinking of buying her first place, suddenly it’s on the table?”
“It’s on the table because your mother saw that Zillow listing, Dream,” Dad stated firmly. “And I should say, yours will have the money you owe us and what you owe Luna deducted from it.”
The amount of that was nearly ten grand, which would really put a crimp in her windfall for a down payment on a house.